Method for Managing Virtual Memory

1. Method for managing, in a computer system including a peripheral device ( 3 ) and a driver ( 4 ) for the peripheral device, a virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of a using application ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ) which can access the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), wherein the management method comprises: creating, in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), a virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) which is accessible to the peripheral device ( 3 ) and inaccessible to the using application ( 6 , 7 ), creating a management application ( 5 ) that is separate from the using application ( 6 , 7 ) and is dedicated to the allocation of at least this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and to the releasing of at least this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), wherein the management application ( 5 ) is created by the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

2. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) is registered in the peripheral device ( 3 ) when it is created by the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

3. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 2 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) are done dynamically at the request of the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

4. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 2 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), for one or more using applications ( 6 , 7 ), are the only functions of the management application ( 5 ).

5. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) are done dynamically at the request of the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

6. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), for one or more using applications ( 6 , 7 ), are the only functions of the management application ( 5 ).

7. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the using application ( 6 , 7 ) has been previously and specifically configured to allow the peripheral device ( 3 ) to access the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of this using application ( 6 , 7 ).

8. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device ( 3 ) uses the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) exclusively for the purposes of the corresponding using application ( 6 , 7 ).

9. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) manages virtual memory pools ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) of a plurality of using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

10. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) occupies less than 1% of the memory space of the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) in which the virtual memory pool is stored.

11. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ) stores information, in the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), which is specific to the using application ( 6 , 7 ) and which can enable access to other using applications ( 6 , 7 ) if the information is modified.

12. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 11 , wherein the information is commands and/or table entries.

13. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device ( 3 ) is a network peripheral device enabling data exchanges between using applications ( 6 , 7 ).

14. Computer system comprising computer members interconnected so as to be able to carry out the method for managing virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of a using application ( 6 , 7 ) of a peripheral device ( 3 ) according to claim 1 .

15. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) are done dynamically at the request of the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

16. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the allocation of the virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and the release of this virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), for one or more using applications ( 6 , 7 ), are the only functions of the management application ( 5 ).

17. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) manages virtual memory pools ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) of a plurality of using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ), all using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ).

18. Method for managing virtual memory according to claim 1 , wherein the management application ( 5 ) manages the virtual memory pools ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) of a plurality of using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ), all using applications ( 6 , 7 ) of some or all peripheral devices ( 3 ) of the computer system.

19. Computer system comprising: a peripheral device ( 3 ), a driver ( 4 ) for the peripheral device ( 3 ), a using application ( 6 , 7 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ), a virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), the using application ( 6 , 7 ) being associated with the peripheral device ( 3 ) such that the peripheral device ( 3 ) can access the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ), wherein the computer system further comprises: a management application ( 5 ), separate from the using application ( 6 , 7 ), dedicated to the allocation of at least one virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) and to the release of at least the at least one virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ), wherein the management application ( 5 ) is created by the driver ( 4 ) of the peripheral device ( 3 ), the at least one virtual memory pool ( 12 , 14 , 22 ) is located in the virtual memory ( 1 , 2 ) of the using application ( 6 , 7 ) while being accessible to the peripheral device ( 3 ) and inaccessible to the using application ( 6 , 7 ).